Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiesunre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfiesunre’, characterized by its double-type, red-orange colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiesunre’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiesunre’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during April 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with fully double-type flowers, attractive flower and foliage coloration, and a freely branching, compact growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding selection designated m3792c-2, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, dark cherry-red colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding selection designated m3420-1-1-2-1-6, not patented, characterized by its double-type, medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2006 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2006 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiesunre’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, red-orange colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower form, flower color, and growth vigor and habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth vigor. The new cultivar has a flower color with more orange coloration and is less vigorous than either parent.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Musica Red Esprit, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of Musica Red Esprit in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a more iridescent petal color         than plants of Musica Red Esprit; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more flowers than plants of         Musica Red Esprit. At six weeks after transplant, plants of         ‘Balfiesunre’ had approximately 8 fully-opened flowers per         plant, while those of Musica Red Esprit had approximately 1         fully-opened flower per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiesunre’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfiesunre’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balfiesunre’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2010 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balfiesunre. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection designated m3792c-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection designated m3420-1-1-2-1-6, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact-mounded growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 8.0 cm. Width: Approximately 18.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately             7.5 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young stem: 145C with streaks of 187B at             the node regions. Color of mature stem: 145C with streaks of             187B at the node regions. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:             Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, becoming perpendicular             with age. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Crenate, ciliate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 3.1 cm. Width             of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 2.8 cm.             Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of             lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137A with venation of 137C. Color of lower surface             of young and mature foliage: 191B with venation of 138A.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Slightly darker             than 137A with venation of 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiesunre’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             6 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity             showing color per plant: Approximately 7.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 39B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 4.5 cm.             Depth: Approximately 2.3 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 36. Shape: Obovate; innermost are             irregular. Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Obtuse; some are emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Length of outermost petals: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of             outermost petals: Approximately 2.3 cm. Length of innermost             petals: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of innermost petals:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: 46A. Color             of lower surface when first and fully open: 39B with centers             of 39C. Color of upper surface when fully open: Between 45A             and 45B.         -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm.             Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at             distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             145C, transparent.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle             to stem. Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of             upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate. Shape of             lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acute. Length of             lateral sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of lateral             sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately             8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface of all sepals: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of             upper and lower surfaces of lateral sepals: 144A. Color of             upper and lower surfaces of lower sepal: 145D with 145B at             tip.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiesunre’, substantially as herein shown and described. 